Narrative:
The C-47 was approximately 35 miles off course en route from Anchorage to Fairbanks, Alaska. The crew apparently was flying at 12,000 feet when they encountered a severe downdraft, which forced them to go on instruments into the clouds. The C-47 hit belly first with the fuselage splitting open, then slid down a precipitous slope coming to rest a third of a mile down from the point of impact.
» USAAS-USAAC-USAAF-USAF Aircraft Serial Numbers--1908 to Present / Joe Baugher
» Remembering Our Heritage
| Status: | |
| Date: | Monday 18 September 1944 |
| Type: |  Douglas C-47A-90-DL (DC-3) |
| Operating for: | Northwest Airlines |
| Leased from: | United States Army Air Force - USAAF |
| Registration: | 43-15738 |
| MSN: | 20204 |
| First flight: | 1944 |
| Engines: | 2 Pratt & Whitney R-1830-92 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 16 / Occupants: 16 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 19 / Occupants: 19 |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | Mt. Deception, AK ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | Anchorage (unknown airport), AK, United States of America |
| Fairbanks International Airport, AK (FAI/PAFA), United States of America |
The C-47 was approximately 35 miles off course en route from Anchorage to Fairbanks, Alaska. The crew apparently was flying at 12,000 feet when they encountered a severe downdraft, which forced them to go on instruments into the clouds. The C-47 hit belly first with the fuselage splitting open, then slid down a precipitous slope coming to rest a third of a mile down from the point of impact.
Classification:
Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Mountain
Sources:
» 1947 Mount Deception C-47 Wreck» USAAS-USAAC-USAAF-USAF Aircraft Serial Numbers--1908 to Present / Joe Baugher
» Remembering Our Heritage
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This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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Douglas DC-3
- ca 13.000 built
- 1036th loss
- 350th fatal accident
- 32nd worst accident (at the time)
- 256th worst accident (currently)
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